CHAPTER 14
LOGAN’S POV
It had been a week since father insisted Audrey and I get married, and the woman has successfully avoided me like a plague. Whenever I went to her room, hoping to have a conversation about the recent happenings in our lives, she was either unavailable or deeply asleep. A deep sleep she was definitely ‘conscious’ of.
Layla and Liam assured me that things would work out, if I put in more pressure. That was what I planned to do today. I had woken up very early to ensure that I was the first person she saw when she wakes up.
Looking at myself in the large mirror by the side of my wardrobe, I adjusted a few wet strands of my hair, securely putting them in place behind my ear. I had black shoulder length hair, which always seemed to need rearrangement. Immediately I was done dressing up, I stepped out of my chambers and made my way to Audrey’s. The entire hallway was empty, save for the few guards that were stationed at one point or the other. Clearly, everyone was still asleep.
When I got to the door of her room, I instantly developed cold feets and clammy palms. Maybe it was because I was actually going to be speaking with her formerly, since the first time we got introduced to each other by the moon goddess.
Eventually, I found it possible to move my hand from my side, and knocked on the door lightly. I was suprised to have gotten an instant response. All she had said was ‘come in’. It was either she thought I was someone else, and was too engrossed in whatever she had been doing, to sniff me out. I braced myself and gently pushed the door open. The moment I stepped in, she looked up and her originally beautiful face was marred with a big frown. Just like I thought, she had been engrossed in something. Something that was quite surprising to see, given her kind of person.
“Good morning, your highness.” She muttered, definitely having no other choice than to show me respect. Wolfless or not, I was still her superior.
“Good morning Au…” Before I could even finish talking, she cut me off.
“Isn’t it too early to be in my room? Don’t you have better things to do?” She asked, throwing me a very harsh glare. I hated the way she could easily make me feel hurt. Annoying perks of being mated.
“Honestly, there is nothing more important than you are.” I swallowed hard, thinking of what next to say. She all but looked back at the piece she was knitting, and continued her work on it. I was still standing before her, but felt so invisible. “You have avoided me all week, and….. I was hoping we could talk today. Our wedding is….”
“Trust me, there would be no wedding. I am just patiently waiting for the council’s obvious verdict, so I can reject you and get on with my life.” She said, adeptly doing her work and not sparing me a glance. I couldn’t help but feel my heart ache as a result of how cold she sounded.
“Audrey, please….” I begged, having no idea what I was really begging for. Was it for her to not reject me, if the council’s verdict was negative? Or was it for her to sound the least bit warm when she spoke to me? Or was it for her to SEE me?! “Please don’t be like this, we can make things work. I know I am not the kind of man you dreamt of having as a mate…”
“You don’t know how right you are about that.” She interjected with a bitter chuckle.
“Audrey, I can be….” I was talking and she cut me short again.
“Finally!” She heaved a satisfied sigh. “I am done with this piece.” Her lips pulled by the corners, forming the most beautiful smile I had ever seen before. It was more of a treasure to me, because this was the first time I was seeing her smile. I was instantly mesmerized, and all I really wanted to do at that point, was carress her smooth cheeks. I would have taken such a bold step, but her next course of action made me go still in my spot.
“Tell me this is beautiful.” She smiled, before raising the piece she had knitted, which turned out to be a thick sweater. Boldly written on the back of the sweater, was ‘Sebastian’. I truly had not expected to see that. So, all night, she spent her time knitting a sweater for him, while she couldn’t do as much as spare me a glance? In that moment, I realized I was probably on the losing end. If the council disapproved of our union like she said, she wouldn’t waste any time in rejecting me. I would have to endure many years of seeing my mate together with my brother. Most of all, if the council rejects the petition, I may never be able to sit on that throne as Alpha King.
I had thought finding my mate would turn things in my favour, but with the look of things, I was soooo wrong. The thought that Sebastian could successfully steal my mate and crown from me, made my eyes sting with unshed tears, that I fought so hard to hold in. “Wouldn’t you say something atleast? Is my handiwork not pleasing to your eyes, dearest mate? This is a piece that I made with so much love. I was thinking you would see how beautiful it is as well.” She smiled.
No one had to ask me to leave, before I turned and walked out through the door of her room. At least, I didn’t hear her laughing at me on my way out, which helped keep my tears at bay.
I walked as fast as my legs could carry me, and when I finally made it to my chambers, I pushed open the door and walked in. Why did my life have to be this way? I never seemed to have everything as it should be. I didn’t want to go into another moment of lamentation, so I just sat on my bed and after a short while, my legs joined my body on the bed. I found myself thinking about how different my life would have been, if certain things were not the way were. I felt a lot of pent up emotions that could literally make anyone else go crazy. Before I could think about it, I found myself getting off my bed and changing into my spar outfit. Walking out of my chamber, I headed towards the training ground and was met with a few other wolves there.
“Your highness!” They greeted chorusly, and I gave a nod. I walked into the private room which was meant for only members of the royal family. Putting on my protective gear, I began to spar with one of the punching bags. I went on and on for minutes, until I lost track of time. All I could feel was my anger getting released onto the poor punching bag, and I didn’t want to stop. Whenever it seemed like I was begin to lose energy, I’d take a short break and continue after that.
It was the the third time I had sat down on one of the benches for some rest, and just when I was about to go at it again, a familiar voice made me halt my movements.
“What has you so enraged, boy?” I turned back to see uncle Justin’s figure approaching me. “Here.” He stretched out his hand, offering me his handkerchief, so I could inhale his scent. His scent always seemed to make me feel better. I brought it close to my nose and inhaled. Immediately, I frowned.
“What is it?” He asked in confusion, and I gave an equally confused look in reply.
“I can smell your scent, but it is no longer as strong as it used to be. It also isn’t making me feel the least bit better.”
“I think I know why.” He muttered, and released a low sigh. “Your mate’s scent has easily overshadowed any other scent you’re used to.”
Hearing him make mention of Audrey, only made my self pity increase. She was fast becoming a very important part of my life, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I knew for a fact that getting more attached to her, was only going to make her future rejection more painful.
“It seems to be that you are facing a lot of challenges in regards to your mate?”
“She hates me.” I sighed.
“So what do you want to do?” He asked, and I scanned his facial expressions intently. Clearly, there was something he wanted to say to me, but was intentionally holding back.
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Because the way you feel about your situation, is a determining factor of an important information your father has asked me to share with you. Do you wish to let her go?” He asked, making me yell out in disbelief.
“Hell no! She is my mate and I would not let her slip away from me. I don’t care if she knits a thousand and one sweaters for Sebastian, I would fight for her!” All the while I ranted, uncle Justin just stared at me quietly. “Wouldn’t you say anything now?” I asked, and all he did was shrug. “What was the important thing my father wanted you to tell me?”
“I guess he should as well tell you by himself. Come with me.” He instructed, and started walking away. I followed behind him, wondering what this was about. After a few minutes, we got to my father’s study, and uncle Justin knocked lightly. After some seconds, we stepped in.
“Good morning, father.”
“A good morning to you too!” He grinned. “You were up and about so early this morning. Any reasons why?” Why was he asking about that? But nonetheless, I satisfied his curiosity.
“I was hoping to converse with my mate before dawn, since she always has a way of avoiding me during the day.”
“And how did it go?” He asked, but I remained quiet. What was I supposed to tell him? That she clearly told me she would eventually be with Sebastian, or the fact that she knitted him a sweater?
“Fine.” I muttered.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
“So, I assume you have made up your mind to make things work between you both, right?”
“Yes.” I nodded, unsure where this was going.
“The council gave a response to my petition just this morning.” He said, without any sort of heads up. My heart almost flew out of my chest. I held in my breathe, waiting to hear what their response was. “The petition was approved, Logan! Congratulations!”